Telegraph-key



N0. 6ll,9|9. Patented Oct. 4, I898. F. E. LEWIS.

TELEGRAPH KEY.

(Application filed Dec. 2, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES FRANK E. LEWIS, OF JEFFERSON, TEXAS.

TELEG RAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 61 1,919, dated October4, 1898.

Application filed December 2, 1897. Serial No. 660,545- (No model.) 7

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK E. LEWIs, of J efferson, in the county ofMarion and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Telegraph-Keys; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a .full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and useit, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

The object of the present invention is to minimize the essential partsof a telegraphkey and to cheapen its construction and increase itseffectiveness.

My invention contemplates the formation of the key-base, the bearingsfor the key-lever journals, and the lever-actuating frame of a singleblank of sheet-steel, brass, or other suitable metal bent to properform.

The invention consists in certain novel features of constructionhereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated by theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the key.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view. Fig. 5is a view of theblank from which the key-base, bearings, and leverspring are formed.Fig. 6 is a plan View of the blank bent to the proper form.

The base A of the key consists of sheet metal and is annular in outline,provided at its outer opposite edges with outwardly-projecting arms 13,having notches D in their ends, and projecting inwardly from the rearinner edge of the annular portion A of the base is an arm E. The arms Bare bent upward at right angles to the base, as clearly illustrated inFig. 4, and their extremities are turned inward and downward, formingoverhanging boxes for the trunnions 0f the keys. The arm E is bentupward, as shown in Fig. 3, and forms a spring for holding the trunnionsof the keys in position and also serves to hold the operating end of thekey normally 'upward.

with the trunnions in proper place, the engagement of the spring andlever being rendered adjustable by set-screw II.

The distance from point to point of the lever-trunnions is the same asthe distance be tween the inner faces of posts B, so that the sharpenedextremities of the former bear against said surfaces, thus making surecontact and providing therefor a frictionless end thrust.

Insulated bushing I is arranged on leg J of anvil K and separated fromthe latter by lip L.

M designates the usual circuit-closing lever, and N avertically-adjustable stop depending from the end of the leverF oppositekey F".

The mounting of the key-lever is extremely simple and exceptionallydurable, there being no delicate partssuch as trunnion-screws, coiledsprings, &c.-to become Worn or disordered. The main portion of the keybeing formed of polished sheet metal, the expense of polishing the castkey of ordinary 0011- struction after its manufacture is avoided.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A blank for telegraph-keys comprising an annular base havingoppositely and outwardly projecting arms with notches in theirextremities, and a forwardly-extending arm Within the annular portion,the said oppositeextending arms adapted to be bent upward to formbearing-posts for the key-trunnions, and the inwardly-extending armadapted to be bent upward to form a spring, substantially as described.

2. The key-base, the upright bearing-posts, and the key-lever springstamped from sheet metal and bent to proper shape, substantially asshown and described.

3. The sheet-metal base A having an upwardly-extending key-lever springstamped therefrom and remaining integral therewith at one end,substantially as shown and described.

4. An improved telegraph-key comprising a base having upwardly-extendingspringposts with their extremities bent inward and downward and providedwith upwardly-extending notches, a key having trunnions with pointedends seated in the said notches and against the inner sides of thespring-posts, and a member for holding the key-trunnion upward Withinthe said notches, substantially as described.

5. An improved telegraph-key comprising a base having struck uptherefrom and integral therewith a longitudinally-extending andupwardly-pressin g spring-arm, and a keylever held in its upwardposition thereby, substantially as described.

6. An improved telegraph-key including upright bearing-posts havinginwardly-extending overhanging boxes, a key-lever provided withtrunnions adapted to be inserted from beneath in said boxes, and anupwardlypressing spring for holding the trunnions normally in place,substantially as shown and described.

7. An improved telegraph-key including the upright bearing-posts havingtheir upper extremities bent inward and turned downwardly, thedownwardly-turned portion being upwardly notched, the key-lever havingoutwardly-projeo ting trunnions j ournaled in the notches, and anupwardly-pressing spring for holding the lever normally in place,substantially as shown and described.

8. An improved telegraph-key, including a base, upright bearing postshaving inwardly-extending. overhanging and upwardly-notched boxes attheir upper ends, the key-lever formed with oppositely-projectingsharpened trunnions adapted to snugly fit the space between the uprightbearing-posts With the latter receiving the end thrust of the trunnionsand the trunnions bearing upward in the notched boxes, and a spring forholding the lever in position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. LEW'IS.

Witnesses:

E. J. ALLEN, GEO. W. KEESE.

